Petunia plant named ‘PEHY0062’

ABSTRACT

A new Petunia plant named ‘PEHY0062’ particularly distinguished by its very small sized flowers, a white flower color, a flower that is very strongly lobed, medium early flowering and a semi trailing plant habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Petunia hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘PEHY0062’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Petunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PEHY0062’.

‘PEHY0062’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has very small sized flowers, a white flower color, a flower that is very strongly lobed, medium early flowering and a semi trailing plant habit.

‘PEHY0062’ originated from a hybridization made in October 2016 in a controlled breeding environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The female parent was the proprietary selection ‘N3118-1V’, not patented. Compared to ‘PEHY0062’ it is more vigorous, is earlier flowering and has a pink flower color.

The male parent of ‘PEHY0062’ was the proprietary selection ‘BA0561-1V’, a plant with medium sized flowers, earlier flowering, and a purple flower color with white center.

The resulting seeds were sown in January 2017. ‘PEHY0062’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May 2017 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘PEHY0062’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in June 2017 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in June 2016 and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘PEHY0062’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘PEHY0062’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in the European Union on Jun. 28, 2021, No. 2021/1710. ‘PEHY0062’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effective filing date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that may have been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘PEHY0062’ directly from the inventor.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Petunia as a new and distinct variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘PEHY0062’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type. The photographic drawings show in FIG. 1 a flowering plant of the new variety and in FIG. 2 a close-up of the flowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs were taken in May 2020 from plants growing indoor in 12 cm pots in Andijk, The Netherlands. These plants were approximately 12 weeks of age.

The plant descriptions and measurements were taken in June 2021 in Andijk, The Netherlands on outdoor plants grown in 35 cm containers. These plants were about 12 weeks old.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘PEHY0062’ AND A SIMILAR VARIETY ‘PEHY0050’, U.S. Ser. ‘PEHY0062’ No. 17/032,137 Flower color: White Purple Plant vigor: Medium Strong Flower shape: Very strongly lobed Strongly lobed

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Semi trailing plant habit.         -   Plant height.—12 cm.         -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—14 cm.         -   Plant diameter (width).—+/−29 cm. -   Roots:     -   -   Number of days to initiate and produce roots.—16 days at             about 22° C.         -   Type.—Fine, fibrous, free branching.         -   Color.—RHS N158D. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sometimes opposite,             decussate.         -   Immature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 137A.         -   Immature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS 137B.         -   Mature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 137A.         -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS 137B.         -   Length.—2.1 cm.         -   Width.—0.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Base shape.—Shortly Attenuate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Densely covered with short hairs.         -   Lower surface.—Densely covered with short hairs.         -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 144A.         -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 144A.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 144A.         -   Length.—0.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Petiole texture.—Densely covered with short hairs. -   Stem:     -   -   Quantity of main branches per plant.—4-5.         -   Color of stem.—RHS 144A.         -   Length of stem.—16 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Length of internodes.—1.2-2.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Dense, mostly glandular short hairs.         -   Color of pedicel.—RHS 144A.         -   Length of pedicel.—0.8 cm.         -   Diameter of pedicel.—0.1 cm.         -   Texture of pedicel.—Densely covered with short hairs. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Flowers solitary in upper leaf axis.         -   Floret type.—Funnel-shaped; 5 lobed petals; fused at base.         -   Blooming habit.—Medium early flowering in greenhouse,             flowering throughout the summer months.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—Approximately 55.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 7 days.         -   Fragrance.—Rather strong smell. -   Bud (just when opening):     -   -   Color.—RHS 1D.         -   Length.—1.2 cm.         -   Width.—0.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblong. -   Immature inflorescence:     -   -   Flower horizontal diameter.—1.6 cm.         -   Color petals, upper surface.—RHS 155C.         -   Color petals, lower surface.—RHS 155C and veins RHS N144B. -   Mature flower:     -   -   Flower horizontal diameter.—2 cm.         -   Flower height (vertical).—2.0 cm.         -   Color upper surface.—RHS 155C.         -   Color lower surface.—RHS 155C with veins N144B.         -   Conspicuousness of veins.—Medium.         -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Waviness of margin.—Low.         -   Petal lobation.—Very strong.         -   Petal texture, upper surface.—Smooth.         -   Petal texture, lower surface.—Smooth, occasionally a short             hair.         -   Corolla tube color outside.—RHS 155C with veins RHS N144B.         -   Corolla tube color inside.—RHS 155C with veins RHS 9A.         -   Conspicuousness of veins in tube.—Medium.         -   Corolla tube length.—1.3 cm.         -   Corolla tube texture, outside.—Rather dense and short             glandular hairs.         -   Corolla tube texture, inside.—Glabrous. -   Calyx:     -   -   Color of sepal, upper surface.—RHS 146A.         -   Color of sepal, lower surface.—RHS 146B.         -   Length.—0.5 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Ensiform.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Densely covered with short glandular             hairs.         -   Lower surface.—Densely covered with short glandular hairs. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistil.—1.         -   Length.—2.2 cm.         -   Style color.—RHS 145C.         -   Style length.—1.2 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 145A.         -   Stamens.—         -   Quantity per flower.—5.         -   Color of filaments.—RHS 145D.         -   Length filaments.—1.3 cm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 158B.         -   Anther length.—0.2 cm.         -   Anther shape.—Elliptical.         -   Color of pollen.—RHS 158B.         -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.         -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been observed on this hybrid.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Has not been observed on this             hybrid. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Petunia plant named ‘PEHY0062’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 